Washington Town Hall, 2006
Washington’s story
Washington in pictures
Census counts: 6,226 in 1990, 7,182 in 2010. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1930 on.
Explore the history →WashingtonWI
A town of 7,478.
Population
7,478
2025 Census estimate · −2.3% since 2020
Median home value
$367K
Census ACS
Household income
$110K
median
Median age
41.8
years
Jobs based here
1,831
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#164 of 357 in WI
Is Washington a good place to live?
Washington grades B+ overall, ranked 164th of 357 in Wisconsin, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. The median household earns $110K and it is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns. A typical home there costs about $367K, 4.9 years of the Eau Claire metro’s $75K median household income. Only 37 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score lower on history. Washington’s average trip to work is 18 minutes, against 22 minutes in Wisconsin’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Lowes Creek County Park, at 177 acres with 10 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Washington for work
Where Washington’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,831jobs based in Washington
3%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Washington grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Washington is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →HealthMarshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire 6.8 miles awayA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.3 of 20; 4.1% of households have no car; 0.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 45% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →SchoolsBehind 51% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduationB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Washington: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Washington, and how to reach them.
PowerEau Claire Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterEau Claire WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Washington’s trash rules yet
SchoolsEau Claire Area School DistrictFall Creek School District2 districts serve Washington; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown of Washington ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP codes54701, 54742, 5472054701 76% · 54742 20% · 54720 4%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Washington.
Washington has added a third more jobs in ten years and has fewer 90° days than most of the country, though not than most of Wisconsin.
HealthA−
Washington stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have obesity
30% of adults have obesity in Washington. Washington beats the Wisconsin average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 29% of adults have high blood pressure in Washington.
81%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Washington | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 38% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 33% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 24% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
12 better20 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Washington | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with obesity | 30% | 37.7% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.8% | 12.1% |
Marshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire
6.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
78th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
More than half of Washington’s working residents commute to Eau Claire
Jobs based here grew from 1,381 in 2013 to 1,831.
Most working residents leave Washington for work: only 3% work in town. Since 2013, Washington has added 450 jobs, to 1,831 in 2023. 2.8% of Washington residents live below the poverty line.
3%work in town
| Washington | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $110,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.5% | 8.4% | 8% |
| Work from home | 14% | 12% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Washington3%
Eau Claire51%
Altoona6%
Chippewa Falls5%
Union4%
7 mi
median commute distance
1,831
jobs based in Washington
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 41% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Washington, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
The Eau Claire Rgnl Ap weather station, 10 miles away, records that about 10 days a year reach 90°: fewer than most of the country, but more than 86% of Wisconsin places with climate records.
Washington has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Washington’s July high is 81°F.
55″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–27°
Spring33–55°
Summer57–79°
Fall37–57°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 8
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsC+
Washington has set aside 1% of its land for conservation
11 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves.
#224for trails in WI
| Washington | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
1%
conserved · 354 of 33,806 acres
11 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lowes Creek County Park | 10 mi | 177 |
| 2. Trillium Park | 0.6 mi | 13 |
| 3. Corydon Park | 0.5 mi | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Washington faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 55% of U.S. communities.
45risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Washington
18pages on Washington
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Washington
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Eau Claire6.3 mi$4,844 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireUniversity or college · Public · Eau Claire6.3 mi$9,642 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Washington residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
About Washington
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Washington is a town in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,662 at the 2020 census, making it the county's second-most-populous municipality. The town is located along most of the south side of the cities of Eau Claire and Altoona. The unincorporated community of Brackett is located within the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 57 sq mi
- Elevation
- 889 ft
Washington’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Washington.
It grades higher overall than all 4 graded towns on its borders; Seymour (B) comes closest.
Eau ClaireAltoonaSeymourLincolnPleasant ValleyBrunswickWashington
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | #164 | B+ | C+ | — | B− | A− |
| Eau Claire | #264 | B− | C+ | C+ | B− | A− |
| Altoona | #224 | B | C+ | C+ | B+ | A− |
| Seymour | #220 | B | C+ | — | B− | B+ |
| Lincoln | — | — | C+ | — | B− | B+ |
| Pleasant Valley | #286 | C+ | D | — | B− | A− |
| Brunswick | — | — | C− | — | B− | A− |
Lincoln and Brunswick have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Washington, Seymour, Lincoln, Pleasant Valley and Brunswick report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Washington with a neighbor →
Questions about Washington
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Washington, WI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Washington grades B+ overall, better than 71% of U.S. towns and #164 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades A− for health and B− for schools.
Is Washington, WI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.